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We Love Music: Mike Mangione & The Union

Photo Courtesy of Mike Mangione & The Union

Mike Maginone is a traveling man in good company while out on the road making music. What started out as solo project well over a decade ago has organically evolved into the band now known as Mike Mangione & The Union. Their melodic rock has a rootsy groove and folk instrumentation gone electric. It’s a sound reminiscent of Ryan Adams and The Cardinals’ early days with an echo of Ray LaMamontagne’s songwriting style.

Mike took some time from the road to fill We Love DC in on where his been, how far he’s come, and what he loves about making music. Here’s what he had to say.

Rachel: When did you first fall in love with music/making music? What was the catalyst for your eventual career in music?

Mike Mangione: I fell in love with music when I started playing my friend’s drums in the first grade. I always enjoyed hearing music as a little kid, but it was not until I had the authority to create noise myself that I fell in love with the freedom and possibilities it enabled.

R: It’s been over a decade since you started traveling around the country as a solo singer-songwriter. What would you say are the biggest differences between where you are now with your band musically and where you were when you first started out?

M: Starting off everything was new and in some way a distraction. I was just excited to be on my own, playing a show, being in a new state, eating at a strange place, drinking with strange people…it all was a wonder at the time. After the luster and wonder dissipated, silence and reality set in and it became easier to reflect on what I was actually doing. And for a portion of time in the early days it was, in a certain sense, a waste of time because it was not good. I do believe it had to happen as part of growing up…so no regrets but it was bad. What happened eventually is I begun to understand my talents and weaknesses and write in a way that respects both. Now I feel like I write in my voice, in my own skin and make music that is in some way apart of me. Also, I;m surrounded by my band, which is like family. The songs are more realized, dynamic and complex. It was fun in the beginning but more of an experience, now it is an expression.

R: Describe your songwriting process. Is it more of an individual effort or is it a collaborative effort with the band? Is it a combination of both? Walk us through how that goes.

M: Songs start with me. I get ideas for the music and melody then sit and wait. I attempt a little with the lyrics but for the most part I wait for them to come, and they do….eventually. I then like to get the violin and cello involved and find their melody and harmonies. After that it’s the rhythm section. All the while my brother Tom is off somewhere trying out different ethereal guitar parts looking for the best match. Its a system that really plays to the strengths of the individuals and respects their talent while staying within the vision.

R: Are there any musicians in particular who’ve had a huge influence on your composition style and how you perform?

M: Bob Dylan, Levon Helm, The Band, Van Morrison, Tom Waits, Peter Gabriel, Marley have all had a huge impact. I love artists that write about the mystery and these guys certainly do. They write bigger than themselves. I have always been attracted to art that looks beyond the artist into the greater unknown…what I call the mystery. So many artists have a tendency to write about themselves and it just stops there. It may be therapeutic for them, which is great, but it only holds me for a moment…these artists mentioned above all create in a way that reflects on humanity..that inspires me in all aspects of my life.

R: You’ve performed in D.C. before. Do you have any standout memories from past performances or trips to the District that standout?

M: We love the city. The standout experiences have been with the people we meet here. We have some great musician friends from this city and that makes all the difference.

Rachel moved to DC in the fall of 2005 to study Journalism and Music at American University. When she’s not keeping up with the latest Major League Baseball news, she works on making music as an accomplished singer-songwriter and was even a featured performer/speaker at TEDxDupont Circle in 2012. Rachel has also contributed to The Washington Examiner and MASN Sports’ Nationals Buzz as a guest blogger. See why she loves DC. E-Mail: rachel@welovedc.com.

Rachel Levitin

Rachel moved to DC in the fall of 2005 to study Journalism and Music at American University. When she’s not keeping up with the latest Major League Baseball news, she works on making music as an accomplished singer-songwriter and was even a featured performer/speaker at TEDxDupont Circle in 2012. Rachel has also contributed to The Washington Examiner and MASN Sports' Nationals Buzz as a guest blogger. See why she loves DC. E-Mail: rachel@welovedc.com.

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